RESURRECTION CELEBRATIONS

Once again this Easter we had our neighbors over to share in the truth of Jesus' death and the celebration of His Resurrection! We played games with eggs and had a hunt for candy too. This year however the rains came right in the middle of Billy sharing the story of Mary at the empty tomb. We had to quickly snatch up all the candy we could find and move the party of over twenty into our living room!!! We enjoyed kool-aid then and waited it out. After a suggestion of another story, Billy shared the story of Jesus calming the storm...in the middle of our own storm raging right outside (and blowing in) our windows. It was a powerful visual aid and Jesus really helped! We are so thankful for the privilege of sharing His love with our neighbors here in Arua.
That celebration was on Saturday afternoon. Then on Sunday morning we had the honor of hosting a sunrise service in our yard. About 50 were in attendance. Our field pastors and their family were here visiting from the states and Pastor Rick preached this year for the service. Jesus was kind to let the sun actually rise as it was a cold and rainy morning.
Elsie Jayne with Aunt Susan...on Resurrection morning!




Friends enjoying the breakfast after the service...and Rick preaching under the rising sun and the empty cross!









After our busy and exciting Easter weekend we traveled to Kampala and then on to Fort Portal Uganda for our field retreat with all of our colleagues. We had a refreshing week and were thankful for the time together! We concluded that time celebrating Joanna's 29th birthday!

Now we have come home to Arua where we are awaiting the arrival of Elsie Jayne's sister. She is due on the 20th of May, but Joanna is hoping for an early baby. Pray with us for a safe and healthy birth and baby. We have sensed Jesus leading us to deliver here in Arua, in our home. This is clearly new for us as Elsie Jayne ended up coming in the states in a hospital as we traveled home when her grand-daddy was so ill. So, we are excited and a bit apprehensive, but trusting as Jesus has put together a great medical team and has given us the assurance of His presence as we look forward to meeting this new little life!

An A-Team Update

Last Sunday (March 29th) - Our teammate, Nickolas Strong, helped organize a soccer (futbol as it is known here) tournament. Eight teams played from various schools from around Arua with Nicholas sharing the Gospel with them afterwards. Nicholas got to practice one of the stories we have been learning with our pastors in Nebbi and did a fantastic job of challenging the audience to trust in Jesus.
Then last Tuesday, we were back in Nebbi district again. We have divided our pastors into two groups; one meets in Nebbi town and the other in a nearby trading center called Akaba. Rainy season welcomed us to Akaba - see the yellow doored church where we meet - it poured and poured. We did get underway but only after a short (2 hours!) rain delay wherein we fortified ourselves against the chilly weather with a hearty breakfast of sugary black tea and a "unique mix" of roasted peanuts and soybeans.
By the time we got to Nebbi town in the afternoon, it had dried out enough for us to practice in pairs outside and Jesus gave us some really solid interaction with those pastors.
Elsie Jayne as always is the star of our family show. Whether smiling hello or even toodling goodbye, she is really cute. She got to play with her friend Esther last weekend which was very exciting. She is very adventurous and is ever so quickly learning how to climb. We celebrate her accomplishments with joy and fear!
Today we had a very exciting experience. It actually began last night when our guard came to our window to quietly request our "torch" (flashlight). He had sat down in a chair next to the guard house when he felt something on his leg. A snake of some sort darted past his leg and into the guard house! I have to admit that after "confirmed" the snake was still in the guard house, we decided to wait for daylight. Needless to say, our guard spent no time inside the house last night.
This morning, we found him ever so cautiously emptying the house, trying to clear out hiding places. Soon Simon, our day watchman arrived and together they "encouraged" the snake's exit. It exited alright and hooded up for all of us. I wish I knew more details for those interested, needless to say though, our black 4-5 foot cobra met his untimely death under a bombardment of flowerbed stones and sticks.Joanna and I have found truth can appear in the most unexpected moments. As the snake's head was finally severed, Simon muttered, "A fitting way to begin Holy Week." This Holy Week, we pray you sense the Presence and the Victory of the One who ultimately came to crush the head of another serpent. Let us not miss a chance to thank you again for your prayers for our protection and particularly, that of our children. Jesus is good to us.